Miniature flasher



Allg. N,ABRAM$VON I MINIATURE rLAsHx-:n

Filed spt. 26. 1929A vENToR ATTORNEY v Patented Aug. 1s, 1931 f UNITED STATES .NATHAN ABRAMSON, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK MINIATURE rLAsHEn Application Iled September 26, 1929. Serial No. 395,430.

This invention relates to thermostatic switching apparatus, and more particularly has referenceto devices adapted for ntermittently flashing `lamps, or the like, such as electric signs, advertising devices and Christmas tree outfits.

' A particular object of this invention is to provide a flashing device in a miniature form.

f A further object of this invention is to provide a flashing device constructed of only a few compact parts and wherein the parts are held together by friction.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

yFigure 1 is a view of the flashing device.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the device.

Figure 3 is a side sectional View of the device.

Figure 4 is a section taken on 4 4 Figure Figure 5 is a t'op view of the device. Figureis view of the fiber member. Figure 7 is a view of the thermostatic element.

Throughout thefigures, similar numerals refer to identical parts.

- The numeral 1, refers to a tubular shell made of hard paper or other insulating material, the lower portion 2, of the shell 1,

is enlarged to receive a metallic receptacle 3, which is threaded on the outside, and g when forced or screwed into the portion 2, rit forms threads onthe inside of the shell and thus held therein.

A bulb 4, is adapted to be screwed into o the inside of the'metal receptacle 3. The

bulb having a contact portion 5.

The metal receptacle 3, is open at the other end. The opening is covered by an insulated washer 6, provided with a slot 7.

Into thefother end of the shell 1, there is inserted ak metallic cap 8, having its outer face threaded and its lower portion 9 flat. The flat portion 9, is forced into the shell 1, and held there by friction.

'Into the cap 8, there is inserted a flat supporting member 10, the upper end of which is 'notched to conform with the threads in the cap 8, 'so that the member 10 is screwed into the cap 8.

, The supporting member 10, has riveted thereto, a thermostatic switch 11, by means of rivet 12. f

The thermostatic switch 11 is of the bimetaly kind, and consists of two metals placed together, the outer metal 13, being steel andthe inner metal 14, being brass.

The thermostat 11, is covered for a portion of its length with insulating material as asbestos 15. A heating or thin wire 16,

is wrapped around the asbestos 15. One end of the wire 16 is soldered or otherwise alixed to the thermostat 11. A contact 17, made of precious metal as silver, is'riveted or otherwise allixed to the thermostat 11.

To the lower portion of the supporting member 10, there is attached a metal strip 18, by means of rivet'19. One end of the strip 18 extends through the slot 7, and is turned horizontally as at 20, to form the contact yagainst which the bulb 4.is placed. A contact 17 is alixed to the strip 18 to cooperate with contact 17.

The other end of the strip 18, is arranged to be in Contact with the end of the heating wire 16 as indicated at 25. This end ofthe strip 18, extends upwardly sufficiently, so that the strip of metal' 18 and Contact .17 is touched by the contact point'17 when it is depressed.

Over the cap 8, there is placed an insulated cover 21 provided with a slot 22. Through the slot 22, the end of the thermostatic metal is arranged to project and is bent'over to provide'a contact point 23.

A wire 24, or other means is provided for conducting the current between the cap 8 and receptacle 3.

In operation: When the flashing device is inserted into a socket, the cap 8 is screwed in tight until the contact point 23, touches the terminal then the current travels through the thermostatic metal 18-14 and since the switch is open, the current travels through the heating wire 16, then through the strip 18 and to the contact 2() and the bulb 4 and back through the shell 8, and wire 24, to cap 8, then to the other terminal.

In the above case most of the current is used up in the heating wire so no light is given off from the bulb 4.

The heat from the wire 16 causes the thermostatic metal to bend inwardly causing the contact 17 to touch contact 17 on the strip 18. In this case, all of the current passing Y through the thermostatic metal 13-14 travels to the bulb 4 andthe light is on.

In the latter case, while the light is on, the thermostatic metal cools of, and the contact 17 breaks from the Contact 17 and the strip 18 and the first operation is repeated. In this manner, through the alternate making and breaking of the circuit the bulb 4 is caused to flash on and off.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claim is intended to cover all of the generic and specilic features of the invention. herein described.

YVhat I claim is:

In a flashing device, an insulated shell, a bulb receptacle having an insulated base at one end of the shell, a cap having an insulated cover at the. other end of the shell, said cap and receptacle being made of metal and in electrical connection, an insulated supporting member having its upper end serrated to tit the threads in the cap and adapted to be threaded therein and extending to said receptacle a thermostatic switch attached to one end of said supporting meniber, the upper end of said switch projects over the insulated cover of the cap, a strip of metal, one end of which is adapted to coact with said switch and is attached to said supporting member, the lower end of said strip extends into said receptacle below the insulated base, said upper end of therniostaticmetal and lower end of strip are turned horizontally, thereby grasping the cover and base and. adapted to hold together the cap and receptacle in spaced relation and provide Contact points for the current to enter and leave the flashing device.

Signed atv New York, Newv York in the County of New York and State of New York this 22nd day of August A. D. 1929.

NATHAN ABRAMSON 

